FDA approves at-home HIV test - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved an at-home HIV test that will be available to the public starting in October.

The test is called Oraquick and the company Orasure claims the product has a 99 percent accuracy rate -- about the same as most home pregnancy tests.

"This rapid test that's now available to public is probably one of the greatest innovations that we've had an opportunity to see for some time," said Dr. Bambi Gaddist with the state HIV and AIDS Council.

Gaddist uses the word rapid because people who take the test will have a chance to know their status within 20 minutes.

"We hope that they will do their homework before they take the test and know at the time of the test what their next options will be and where they will seek help if in fact," Gaddist said.

Another concern for Gaddist is that positive test results may go unreported to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

"Is it up to the consumer to then present their outcome to a healthcare facility which, such as ours, would be required to report?" Gaddist said.

But even though there are some unknowns, Gaddist says no one can deny that testing is the best way to slow new infections.

"It's a technology that can potentially decrease the number of people who don't know their status, who go get help early versus what we're seeing now," Gaddist said.

The cost of Oraquick will be about $34 and so far sales are only approved for people 17 years or older.

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